Because the neck is more flexible and less protected than the rest of the spinal column, it is more vulnerable to orthopedic problems. The neck is more susceptible to orthopedic injury and orthopedic conditions that result in pain and restricted movement. Many times the neck is actually the source of pain radiating throughout the back, shoulder and arm. Neck pain can be caused by:

Orthopedic abnormalities in the bones, joints and soft tissues (muscles, ligaments and nerves)

Osteoarthritis- orthopedic degeneration of the joints in cervical vertebrae

Rheumatoid arthritis-destruction of the neck joints

Disk degeneration-degeneration of the gelatin-like nucleus causing compression of the disks

Herniated cervical disk-protrusion of nucleus material into the spinal canal